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A new report says that 44% of Illinoisans are getting ready to take a spring break vacation of 3 days or more.

Strong economic growth prompted a record number of us here in Illinois to travel during the holidays, and experts fully expect that trend to continue here in 2018.

It was a record-setting travel weekend at Thanksgiving, and Christmas looks to be even bigger.

The average amount expected to be spent on the holidays by Illinoisans is nearly $1,000.

In the interests of full disclosure, my grandmother didn't have the decency to live over the river.

In the aftermath of Hurricane Harvey's smackdown of the Houston area, we were warned that gas prices would certainly be on the rise because of the extensive damage and flooding to the gasoline refineries in that area. It was also suggested by some that higher prices and shortages could last for months. Only part of that came true.

After watching the disaster in Houston unfold over the last week, I'm really trying to avoid complaining about the little annoyances of my life--but I'm willing to make an exception when it comes to gas prices. We have something to complain about.

It's not your imagination. You actually are paying more for a gallon of gas today than you did last month, and almost 25 cents more than you did last year at this time. And yes, the rise in prices is continuing.

This Independence Day, a record-breaking 44.2 million Americans will travel 50 miles or more away from home, taking to the nation’s roads, skies, rails and waterways to honor the red, white and blue. With 1.25 million more travels than last year, 2017 will be marked as the most traveled Independence Day holiday weekend ever.

Here in Illinois, we'll take good news wherever and whenever we can get it. So, with that in mind, those of us who are planning on hitting the road this summer can look forward to lower gas prices.